Columbia River nearshore halibut fishery opens seven days a week, June 8

The Pacific halibut nearshore sport fishery in the Columbia River Subarea will open to seven days per week, starting this week. The all-depth fishery closed, with approximately 1,000 pounds remaining on the quota. That is not enough to open for additional all-depth days. That remaining quota has been transferred to the nearshore fishery, allowing the additional days per week to be open. The nearshore fishery will be open until the revised quota of 1,511 pounds is harvested, or September 30, whichever comes first. Opportunities to fish for Pacific halibut remain open in other areas of Oregon as well:  Off central Oregon between Cape Falcon (near Manzanita) and Humbug Mountain (near Port Orford), anglers may fish for halibut inside the 40-fathom line beginning June 1, seven days a week through Oct. 31 or attainment of the harvest quota (28,897 pounds) for that fishery. The all-depth halibut fishery off central Oregon is next scheduled to be open June 8-10, with additional fixed open dates scheduled for June 15-17. The summer season all-depth is scheduled to begin on August 4-5 every other Friday and Saturday until Oct. 31 or the quota of 60,203 pounds has been met. The high-relief area of Stonewall Bank, west of Newport, is closed to all halibut fishing. The area between Humbug Mountain and the OR/CA Border is open at all depths for Pacific halibut seven days a week through Oct. 31 or until the quota of 10,039 pounds has been met, whichever comes first. Days on which Pacific halibut fishing is open will be announced on the NOAA Fisheries hotline (1-800-662-9825) and posted on the ODFW Marine Resources Program Web site.